
Controlling Echinothrips americanus with predatory mites and bugs
As every grower knows, thrips are a huge problem in ornamentals grown under glass. The usual suspect is the Californian thrips, a species with

From open fields to tunnels
I am writing my second column having just returned to South Africa after two weeks in the Netherlands. It’s always good to keep in

‘LED is greatest horticultural innovation since the invention of the tractor’
The Flavourfresh Solfresh group has the unwavering mission to be the most innovative and flavoursome tomato grower in the UK and beyond. The company

Growers alarmed by outbreaks of Bemisia and tomato russet mite
Several growing areas in the Netherlands and Belgium had to contend with them last year: Bemisia tabaci and tomato russet mite. These two pests

Higher light level boosts yields, lost heat easy to make up for
Completely separately from one another, two Belgian rose growers with premises barely ten kilometres apart came to the conclusion that a combination of SON-T

The Spanish government’s sustainability ambitions are a challenge for the future
The seaside resort of Chipiona in the south of Spain is a horticultural enclave with a character all of its own: cut flowers are

Propagator makes optimal use of raw materials at new site
With the future regulations and the obligation to treat discharged water, making optimal use of raw materials is becoming an increasingly important issue for

Good cucumber yields in innovative Winterlight greenhouse
Last year the focus in the Dutch 2SaveEnergy greenhouse was on high-wire cucumbers. Over two production cycles, Wageningen University & Research investigated whether it

Tailoring fertilisation for pot- and soil-grown crops gets easier
Some relatively new coated fertilisers are giving growers more options for optimising crop nutrition. Aspects taken on board in the development process included calcium

New spraying technique improves hygiene and quality at Schreurs
Around two years ago, Dutch rose breeders Schreurs wanted to take their hygiene and quality control to a higher level. After setting up their

Big boost in tomato production with exact substrate measurements
“Passion for perfection” – that’s Dutch tomato growers Schenkeveld’s slogan, and not without good reason. Production and quality are already at a very high

Rhizoctonia
Rhizoctonia solani is a soil fungus with a wide host range and worldwide distribution. Its host plants include virtually all vegetables, flowers, shrubs and

‘Growing the breeding empire through innovation and expansion’
With its recent acquisitions of Wander Tuinier Succulenten (June), Hobaho (September) and Olij Rozen (October 2016), Dümmen Orange has once again been making the

‘New approach to climate control whets the appetite for more’
Dutch growers who are directly involved in research into Next Generation Growing soon discover that they can apply small parts of it to their

Controlling hyperparasites: on the trail of the best scents
Hyperparasites in the crop can completely disrupt biological crop protection. Sweet pepper growers in the Netherlands know a thing or two about that. But

Movement and touch make plants shorter
Plants in the greenhouse are increasingly on the move. More attention is being paid to air circulation and mobile cultivation is on the rise.

Labour challenges
Farming is an innately labour-intensive industry. With the advent of greenhouse technology leading to increased yields and better quality crops, labour has remained just

Small core cucumber project calls for intensive collaboration
By the end of June 2016, time was getting tight for cucumber grower Marco Zuidgeest. If he wanted to grow the innovative small core

Constant arms race between plant and fungi
Fungi parasitize plants because they can’t assimilate themselves. They have developed numerous methods of penetrating the plant. In turn, plants have developed a complete

‘Qlipr is a really interesting system to work with’
Paul Jeannet, farm manager of the UrbanFarmers rooftop greenhouse in The Hague, has used the Qlipr system for three months in four different crops: